Apparatus for forging axles



No. 430,541. Patented June 17, 1890.

W www UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VOLCOTT J. PARMELEE, OF NVILKES-BARR, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR FORGING AXLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,541, `dated June 17, 1890.

Application led January 22, 1890. Serial No. 337,751. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WoLco'rr J. PARMELEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Process of and Apparatus for Forging Axles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and iniproved process of and apparatus for forging axles; and the prime object of the invention is to make an axle in a single piece or from a single blank including` both spindles, thus avoiding the necessity of subsequently welding separate parts together.

Prior to my invention the usual method employed by axle manufacturers in the manufacture of axles has been to make them in two separate pieces, each having a spindle and collar formed at its outer end, these pieces being subsequently welded together at their inner ends. This procedure has been attended by various disadvantages, foremost among which have been the excessive cost of production caused by the necessity of frequently handling the product. Besides, axles manufactured in this way would frequently be defective, owing either to imperfections in the welding or to the irregularity in the length of the axles, which would occasionally occur; and it may be stated that the latter diiculty is the principal one which has heretofore existed in the manufacture of axles from a single piece, it having been found practically impossible by means heretofore employed to make the axles all of exactly the same length, or, what is more important, with precisely the same distance between the eollars at the inner ends ofthe spindles.

It is to overcome these disadvantages that l have devised my present invention, which may be described as consisting, mainly, in forming the collars at the inner ends of the spindles from thesurplusl stock flashing out between the forming-dies, the flash or waste portion of the surplus being formed at an intermediate point upon the collar, where it maybe readily trimmed off by a subsequent operation, in contradistinction to processes by which the flash is formed atone end of the collar, from which it is impossible to remove it without great danger of tearing or rupturing the edge of the collar, and thereby inj uring the axle beyond repair.

To accomplish the objects of my invention, the latter consists in the improvedA apparatus and process which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a plan view of a portion of a machine to which my improvements are attached, the mechanism for operating the dies being omitted, and an axle-blank being shown in dotted lines in position for operation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionalview showing the longitudinally-movable plunger-die brought forward to form the spindle and collar. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one end of the axle as it leaves the dies, showing the flash formed near the center of the collar, ready to be trimmed o. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the holding and forming dies. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the holding-dies. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of the outer end of the supportingbracket and the adjustable stops used in connection with my invention. Fig. 8 is a side view of the axle-blank previous to being operated upon by the dies.

-Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

l designates the bed of thema-chine, and 2 3 designate the clamping-dies, the former of which is stationary, while the latter is adapted to move laterally between suitable guides. Mechanism is provided for operating the laterally-movable die 3, as well as the longitudinally-movable plunger-die to be hereinafter described; but such mechanism forms no part of my invention, and will not be speciticallydescribed. The meeting faces of the dies 2 and 3 are provided with angular recesses or grooves 4C, which, when placed together, form an opening which is square in cross-section. The front and rear ends of the said angular recesses are provided with semicircular grooves or rabbets, as shown plainly at 5 in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The recesses 4 in the meeting faces of the dies 2 and Sare adapted to clamp the square portion of the IOO axle which is being operated upon, and the grooves 5 at the front ends of said dies when placed together form a cylindrical recess, which serves to form the inner end of the collar of the axle.

6 designates the longitudinally-movable plunger-die, which is provided with a shank 7, whereby it is fitted in the longitudinallymovable carriage 8, where it is held securely by means of a set-screw 9. The said plunger-die has a longitudinal tapering' boie or recess 10, which is shaped to form the spindle upon the end of the axle. At the outerend of the bore 10 is formed a cylindrical recess 11, adapted to form the outer end of the collar upon the axle, and the outer end of the said plunger-die is beveled or tapered, as shown at 12, in order to give room for the flash to expand or escape annularly from the collar when the latter` is being formed. The longitudinal movement of the plungerdie with relation to the clamping-dies is limited, so that the plunger-die, when it is at the extreme limit of its movement in the direction of the clamping-dies, shall not be in contact with the latter; but sufficient room shall be left for the Hash to escape between the faces of the plunger and the clamping-dies.

Suitably attached to the under side of the bed of the machine is a forwardly-extendin g supporting-bracket 13, the front or outer end of which is in a line with the clamping and plunger dies. The outer end of the supporting-bracket 13 is upturned to form a stop 14, and it is also provided with a longitudinal slot 15.

16 designates a T-shaped key, adapted to be fitted in the slot 15, and 17 designates a block or stop provided in its under side with .a recess 18, adapted to straddle `the supporting-bracket 13. The uses of the stops 16 and 17 willbe presently more fully described.

19 designates the blank or stock from which axles are manufactured by my improvement. Said blank consists simply ot' a square iron bar of suitable dimensions, the ends ofwhich have been forged by a power-hammer into cylindrical shape, as will be seen at 20. The central portion ot' the axle-blank may be left square or of any other con figuration in crosssection.

In carrying out my improvement one end of the axle-blank is first heated to a forgingheat and is then adjusted between the clamping-dies 2 and 3, the opposite cold end of the axle meanwhile resting against the stock 14 at the outer end of the supporting-bracket 13. If shorter axles are to be manufactured, one of the stops 17 may be adjusted upon the outer end of the supporting-bracket 13, either abutting against the stop 14 at the outer end ofthe latter or against one of the' T-shaped keys 16, one or more of which may be adjusted in the longitudinal slot 15, thereby regulating the length of the axle which is to be formed. The heated end of the axle having been adjusted and clamped between the section 3 is likewise caused to recede, and the blank may then be removed and permitted to cool. After a suitable number of axleblanks have been operated upon in this manner at one of the ends one of the stop-blocks 17 is mounted upon the supporting-bracket 13, either to rest against the stop 14 or against such stop-blocks as have been previously employed.

This is for the purpose of compen sating for the amount of stock to be used in forming the collar at the opposite end of the axle. The unshaped ends of the axle-blanks are now heated to a forging heat and subjected to the operation of the dies in precisely the same manner as above described, and the axles when they leave the dies the second time are complete and ready to be trimmed. The operat-ion of trimming ory removing the flash is performed by a process and apparatus which forms the subject of an application for Letters Patent of even date herewith.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription,taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. It will be seen that the collar on either end of the axle is formed by the conjoint action of the plunger and the holding-dies, the former beingrecessed to form the outer end, and the latter being likewise recessedvto form the inner end of said collar.

In this manner I succeed in forming the flashl at an intermediate point of the collar, where it may be readily removed by a subsequent trimming operation, instead of being formed at either end of the colla-1', where it could not be removed, except in an expensive and tedious manner, or wit-h danger of injuring or destroying the axle. This is one of the important features of my invention. Another feature, which I deem to be of the greatest importance, is the absolute certainty and accuracywith which the axles are formed of precisely the same length, irregularity in this respect being rendered absolutely impossible by my improved machine and process.

I would have it understood that various modifications of details might be adopted without changing the character of the invention. Thus, for instance, adjusting-stops of a different or modified construction might be used; or, instead of beveling the end of the plunger-die, as shown at 12, the ends of the holding-dies might be beveled with a like result. I reserve the right to these and to any other modifications which may be resorted to IOO IIO

Without departing from the spirit of my invention. i

Myinvention may be successfully employed for forming the spindles and collars upon the ends of half-axles to be subsequently welded together, the operation or process of forming the collar being equally well adapted to this style of axles.

I am aware that axles have been constructed prior to my invention from a single piece of stock by upsetting the collars at the inner ends of the spindles. By processes of this kind, with which I am familiar, however, it has been necessary after upsetting the collar to forge and shape the same under thepowerhammer--an operation which involves much additional lnanipulation and expense, and which is entirely donc away with by my in vention.

By forming the semicircnlar grooves 5 at both ends of the clamping-dies'Q and 3 the latter may be reversed or turned end for end, so as to present a new and perfect die after the collar-forming die or recess 5 at one end has been worn out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming the collar, which consists in sub j ecting the axle-blank while heated to a forging heat to endwise pressure between dies that form, respectively, the innerand the outer ends of the collar, the surplus stock forming the flash at an intermediate point of the collar, substantially as set forth.

2. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming the collar which consists in mounting the axle-blank while heated to a forging` heat between suitable holding-dies and subjecting it to endwise pressure by a longitudinally-movable plunger-die, the holding-dies and plunger-die coacting to form the inner and outer ends of the collars, respectively, the surplus stock being permitted to escape between the meetin g faces of the dies and plu nger to form the flash atan intermediate point of the collar, substantially as set forth.

3. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming the collars, which consists in sub? jecting the axle-blank While heated to aforgn ing heat and while held securely 'against longitudinal movement to endwise pressure betweenthe dies that form, respectively, the inner and the outer ends of the collar, the surplus stock being permitted to escape between the meeting faces of the dies and plunger to form the flash at an intermediate point of the collar, substantially as set forth.

4L. In the manufacture of axles, the process of forming the collars, which consists in subjecting the axle-blank While heated to a forging heat and while mounted between clamping-dies to endwise pressure by a longitudinallymovable plunger, said collar being formed by the conjoint action of the clampingdies and plunger, and the surplus stock being permitted to escape between the meeting faces of said clamping-dies and plunger from an intermediate point of the collar, the move# ment of the plunger being limited to afford ample room for the escape of the flash between the meeting faces of the dies, substantially as set forth.

5. The clamping-dies, one stationary and `the other laterally movable, said clampingdies being provided in their meeting faces with angular or V--shaped recesses, and with semieircular grooves at each end of said recesses, substantially as set forth.

(i. The longitudinally-movable plunger-die having a cylindrical recess at its outer end and having the beveled or inclined face, :sube stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The clamping-dies, one stationary and the other movable, said clamping-dies being provided in the meeting faces with angular recesses having semicircular grooves at their outer ends, the longitudinally-movable plunger-die having the cylindrical recess at its outer end, the supporting-bracket having the upturned end and longitudinal slots, and the adjustable stops, all combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. rlhe clamping-dies, one stationary and the other movable, said clamping-dies being provided in the meeting faces with angular recesses having semicircular grooves at their outer ends, the longitudinally-movable plunger-die having the cylindrical recess at its outer end, andthe stop for the end of the axle, all combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WOLCOTT J PARMELEE.

lVitnesses:

BEN C. PRICE, S. C. STRUrHERs.

IOC) 

